Ballon d'Or 2026 shortlist: nine PSG, six Spaniards, five French as Messi and Rodri return | OneFootball

Ballon d'Or 2026 names 30, led by Paris Saint-Germain with nine, and welcomes back Lionel Messi and Rodri. According to L'Équipe, PSG again equal the record for most nominees after retaining the Champions League.

Holder Ousmane Dembélé will defend his crown, the first to do so since Karim Benzema in 2023. After two editions without past winners, he is joined by Rodri and Messi, 39.

PSG's nine match last season and Real Madrid's tallies in 2003 and 2018. New Parisians are centre-backs Marquinhos and Willian Pacho, the latter a first-time nominee.

Désiré Doué misses out. Ligue 1 is the most represented for the third time after 2025 and 1956 in a shortlist with no goalkeepers, while Serie A has one nominee.

PSG will have 10 at the ceremony including summer signing Ferran Torres. He assisted in the 1-0 last 16 win over Portugal, then hit the World Cup final winner versus Argentina, 1-0 after extra time. He edged out Mikel Oyarzabal and Fabian Ruiz replaced Pedri, as Spain lead with six picks ahead of France on five.

Mexico's Julian Quinones is a surprise pick, outstanding at the World Cup and the Saudi Pro League's top scorer, earning a first nod at 29. The Saudi league appears for the first time, twice with Sadio Mané of Al-Nassr, while MLS features only for the second time via Messi's Inter Miami since David Beckham in 2007. Since Neymar in 2013, no player based outside Europe had made a Ballon d'Or list until now.

Source: L'Équipe

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